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Traffic on a sat on M25
2b_pablo - 28/3/08 at 08:42 AM

guys, going to pick my new car up on sat and pretty tight for time for the ferry home. Anyone offer any usual traffic info on the following:

M25 from guildford to M40
all of M40
all of M6 (better to use Toll or normal?)

can I expect any heavy traffic/big roadworks going on that kind of thing?

cheers all much appreciated

twybrow - 28/3/08 at 08:49 AM

I did Guildford to Warwick last week on saturday. It was bank holiday and still the traffic was ok. M25 is never quiet during the day, but it was doing a constant 60-70mph. the M40 I have only ever been stuck on it once. Not sure on the M6.

Pdlewis - 28/3/08 at 08:57 AM

The M6 shouldnt be to bad but if time is tight it is worth the extra £3 to go on the nice smooth M6 toll

2b_pablo - 28/3/08 at 08:59 AM

super duper cheers chaps!

7 1/2 hours to get to stranraer, it will be like vanishing point

kevmcdo - 28/3/08 at 09:04 AM

Be aware the area around the ferry port has a very high volume of Average speed cameras for a lot miles. So if you are very tight for time try and make the most of it in the early stage of you journey and good luck ;oP

2b_pablo - 28/3/08 at 09:09 AM

oh they have average ones up now? dammit lol.

A75 is a great road when youre late for the ferry. I was cutting it right to the bone one night in a 156 GTA (3.2V6) was the most glorious drive in years as fast as I could from carlisle to stranraer!

ned - 28/3/08 at 09:26 AM

Guildford to the NEC via a3/m25/m40 is 2 hours. Done this on several occassions to the Autosport show.

Did Guildford to Kendal in 4 1/4 hrs last november but coming back with traffic same journey was about 5 hours. Used the m6 toll both ways.

Hope this helps..

iank - 28/3/08 at 09:33 AM

quote:
Originally posted by 2b_pablo
oh they have average ones up now? dammit lol.

A75 is a great road when youre late for the ferry. I was cutting it right to the bone one night in a 156 GTA (3.2V6) was the most glorious drive in years as fast as I could from carlisle to stranraer!


I actually quite like the average speed cameras (bikers must like them even more). They have improved traffic flow on the 14 between the A1M and Cambridge. The old cameras led to the "brake hard just in case" behaviour that just leads to the road grinding to a halt and accidents IMO. Now the road moves at 65-70mph the whole way (until some muppet crashes anyway).

I'd make sure you're ferry has a transferable ticket just in case. You can never guarantee a free ride.

2b_pablo - 28/3/08 at 09:42 AM

quote:
Originally posted by ned
Guildford to the NEC via a3/m25/m40 is 2 hours. Done this on several occassions to the Autosport show.

Did Guildford to Kendal in 4 1/4 hrs last november but coming back with traffic same journey was about 5 hours. Used the m6 toll both ways.

Hope this helps..


Thats about what the route planner is saying too mate so good to know its semi accurate.

hopefully get to sit at 80 for a fair bit rack up a bit of progress.

If its looking too tight I can postpone the boat to the next one, not the end of the world by any stretch but a 4hr wait in stranraer in an elise isnt too appealing

[Edited on 28/3/08 by 2b_pablo]

mitch2b - 28/3/08 at 10:13 AM

Hi Pablo,
M6 toll on a quite day saves 5 mins, the robinhood group split at it coming north From Stonliegh last year, we all stopped for fuel after it and there was only 5 mins between the two groups,

Mitch

2b_pablo - 28/3/08 at 10:15 AM

might just make the difference lol!

how much is it? just use cash yeah?

ned - 28/3/08 at 10:44 AM

think it's 3 or 4 quid each way. either stop at a toll booth or throw coins in a bucket at the automated barriers. Just don't do what I did and think oh that barrier's free then realise it's for auto tag holders and have to cut across several lanes and join a queue - DOH!

Ned.

02GF74 - 28/3/08 at 10:48 AM

M25 - always busy around M3 and M4 - maybe worse due to the shambles of heathrow T4.

M40 always seem bad around A34 and can be slow around High Wyc where is narrows to 2 lanes.

2b_pablo - 28/3/08 at 10:53 AM

will be around 12/1pm tomorrow if that makes any difference.

I guess its the only show in town tho even if its slow its still better than any alternative route?

Hammerhead - 28/3/08 at 10:56 AM

Did you buy the red elise that was repairable?

2b_pablo - 28/3/08 at 10:58 AM

no mate decided it wasnt worth the hassle so went for this one:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/288329.htm

looks to be well kept and has a few nice mods too.

Kriss - 28/3/08 at 11:05 AM

I have been up to staffs 3-4 times on saturday mornings and its no problems at all. Even when terminal 5 was being built.

toll road is only worth it if you are aware of any accidents etc (just keep your radio on)

Hammerhead - 28/3/08 at 11:30 AM

quote:
Originally posted by 2b_pablo
no mate decided it wasnt worth the hassle so went for this one:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/288329.htm

looks to be well kept and has a few nice mods too.


thats more like it! Looks very nice, just make sure it's fully up to temperature before giving it the beans.
Also it has got clear front indicator lenses which are another nice mod.

Take it steady, and have fun.

Steve.

stevebubs - 28/3/08 at 05:14 PM

FWIW, I've done Reading - Manchester a few times recently and found that taking the M5 rather than the M6 toll worked really well - most people seem to use satnav now which takes you M6 / M6 Toll so the M5 is much quieter than it used to be...

2b_pablo - 30/3/08 at 07:50 AM

made it, JUST.

M25/M40/M6 toll all fine. M6 after the toll and coming up on the liverpool/manchester area was crazy slow. Thought I was buggered for time after a lot of stop start traffic.

Once past that tho straight run up to carlisle made up a bit of time then a nice clear run to stranraer while it was still light. Made the boat with 5 mins to spare.

why does it always come so close to the wire lol?

thanks for all the input lads.

iank - 30/3/08 at 10:21 AM

Better 5mins early than 5secs too late.

Good to hear you made it